Fire-escape



(No Model.)

D. L. `WINTERS. PIRE' ESCAPE.

Patented June 1-4, 1898.-

gte a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

`DAVID L. WINTERS, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 605,686, dated June 14, 1898.

y Application filed February 28, 1898. Serial No. 672,092. (No model T all whom/,it weary cqncern.-

Be it known that I, DAvInL. WINTEEs, a citizen of the .United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful` Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andv exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a governs the rotation of the sheave or pulley and causes the same to be of a uniform nature regardless of the weight of the descending person or load, the object of the present improvements being to provide a simple, cheap, and durable mechanism for such uses I that is capable of effective operation in either direction, so that after one person or load has been lowered the opposite end of the lowering-rope will be in position ready for lowering another person, all as will hereinafter more fully appear, and be more particularly pointed out in the claims. I attain such object by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aview, partly in section, at linel Fig. 2, the main portion ot' one ofthe counterpart halves ofthe housing being removed, with portion 4of the sheave or pulley in elevation and With-the friction-shoes in section; Fig. 2, a transverse section at line oc Fig.1;/Fig. 3, a side elevation of the 'combined sheave and friction-shoe carrier of guide-lug 6 for the fire-escape ropevor cable, and Inarginal lugs 7, by means of which the sections are bolted together in a iixed and substantial manner'.

The tubular necks i of the housing taken together form the journal-arbor for the ropesheave of the present invention. Such ropesheave composes a main sheave portion 8, ,formed with ay centrally-arranged peripheral groove 9 to receive and retain the lowering ropeor cable looped around the sheave, as shown, the central portion of said sheave beingprovided with the usual hub portion 10, turning on the tubular necks 4 of the casing andhaving sufficient length to prevent eudwise movement of the sheave within the casing when the parts are connected together for use.

Equidistantly from the medial line and in a transverse direction the sheave 8 is formedA or provided with duplicate series of radial projections 1l, of a thin and rectangular form, that constitute slideways or guides for the duplicate series of friction-shoes of the present invention.

The duplicate series of friction-shoes l2 have-a sector-shape formation, with radial guide-oriiices 13, that are adapted to engage upon the respective guide projections 11 of the sheave, so as to have a radial movement thereon in the operation ofthe mechanism, and in my preferred construction, as shown in the drawings, the orifice 13 in the said shoes will be of a greater length than the projections ll, so that there will be some lost motion before said projections engage the forward ends of said openings in the operation of the mechanism, the purpose of this arrangement being to permit of a slight initial movement of the sheave and lowering-cable before the friction-shoes are brought into action, as I find by practical test that such construction affords greater sensitiveness as well as safety to the apparatus.

14 is the lowering-cable, of any usual form and material and Which is adapted to pass around the sheave and out through the pair of guide-orifices in the tubular lug 6 of the casing, as shown.

In use with the descent of a person or, load upon one side or end of the cable an acceleration in the speed of descent will cause the lOO series of friction-shoes to move out by ccntrifugal action into frictional contact with the interior cylindrical surface of the housing to retard and resist such action, the amount of friction set up corresponding with the speed of descent, so that by a proper proportioning of the parts the load or person will descend at a uniform and slow speed regardless of the weight of such load or person.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. In a fire-escape, the combination of an inclosing casing provided with an interior eylindrical track-surface, a sheave mounted to rotate within said housing and provided with duplicate series of radial guide projections, and a rope-groove arranged centrally between said series of projections, and duplicate series of friction-shoes arranged to slide radially on said projections and adapted to Contact with the cylindrical track-surface of the housing, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of an inelosing casing formed in counterpart halves, each provided with a central tubular neck and an interior cylindrical track-surface, a sheave arranged to rotate on said necks and provided with duplicate series of radial projections, and with a rope-groove arranged centrally between said series of projections, and duplicate series of friction-shoes arranged to slide radially on said projections and adapted to contact with the Cylindrical track: surface of the housing, substantially as set forth.

3. In a lire-escape, the combination of an inclosing casing formed in counterpart halves, each provided with a central tubular neck, marginal connecting-lugs, tubular guidelugs, suspension-lug and an interior cylindrical track-surface, a sheave arranged to rotate on said necks and provided with duplicate series of radial projections, and with a rope-groove arranged centrally between said series of projections, and duplicate series of friction-shoes arranged to slide radially on said projections, and adapted to contactwith the cylindrical track-surface of the housing, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof witness my hand this 26th day of February, 1898.

DAVID L. WINTE .S.

In presence of- JAMES LAVALLIN, ROBERT BURNs. 

